Wide angle SL APO GAS

[hoolyproductions]

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So I have the 50 and 90mm APO SL lenses. The 50mm is my most used lens and I adore it (I also have the ASPH version when I want to travel light).

I’ve become interested in an SL APO wide angle - I clearly don’t need one with the lens options already available to me, but thought I’d clear my thoughts out here and see what sort of feedback I get. I suppose this thread is not really any different from the many that already exist on which focal length to get but here it is.

Generally if I am out shooting in decent light I use my 24-90mm zoom, and when shooting music events in the evenings I almost always shoot with primes - usually the 50mm and sometimes I bring along the 90mm APO and/or a 35mm Summilux-M if I think I might want a wider shot.

Because the 24-90mm is lighter than carrying two (never mind three) APOs, and with my preference for 50mm, I have resisted getting any of the wide-angle models. I also have the very light and quite good Sigma 24mm f3.5 which I sometimes use together with the 50m ASPH for a lighter kit.

• 35mm APO: Over the years this has generally been my preferred wide angle, although I also shoot a lot at 24mm. Out of the three APO wides I think I would enjoy using this focal length the most, but it is also closest to 50mm and would sometimes not be wide enough.
• 28mm APO: Not really ‘my’ focal length but would be that bit wider when needed and could be very readily cropped to 35mm (and more). I’m thinking I would easily be able to visualise the 35mm frame when shooting and so it would almost be like having two lenses in one? Out of the three this often seems the most tempting.
• 21mm APO: I rarely shoot this wide, tending to prefer 24mm for most wide angle shots. However it would give me a fast and highly corrected lens for (very occasional) astrophotography and could be readily cropped to 24mm. Also for architecture it would allow some extra room for perspective correction.

Any thoughts on this?

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[Dr. G]

What body are you going to be using it with?

I have the SL3 and usually carry the 21/35/75 APO - which still boggles my mind since I'm primarily a 50mm shooter.  I can easily carry 21/50 with the SL3 because in APS-C mode I get a 32mm equivalent with the 21 APO and still have amazing image quality.  Like you, 28mm isn't really my focal length.  I would prefer 24mm.  

The one thing that the APO 21 does better than the Sigma 20 1.4 does, to my eyes, is not stretch the images at the edges as much as other wide angle lenses do.  I'm not sure if it's actually wider than 21mm and there are in camera corrections being done, but it's an easy lens to shoot and I don't regret picking it up at all.  Optically it seems to be on par with the 35.  

 A little advice.  Don't try the 75 APO unless you're prepared to buy it on the spot .  Again, that comes from someone who is primarily a 50mm shooter.  

[hoolyproductions]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have an SL2-S and am on a waiting list for an SL3. I actually had the 75 APO before the 90 and I regularly regret selling it (for landscape the 90mm is better for me, I used the 75 mainly for music gigs when I wanted to isolate e.g. the singer and a 90mm would have been too tight). I did not use it very often but when I did it was a delight to use. I check from time to time if any are going second hand for a particularly good price but have resisted so far 

[panoreserve]

I would highly recommend the 28 Apo. For several years now, for reasons of weight and compactness, I have only taken the combi 28 Apo & 90 Apo with me (and usually leave my 50 Apo at home). The 28 can also easily be cropped to 35mm if necessary. Two more bits of advice: 1.) using the automatic perspective correction makes a lot of sense with the 28mm. 2.) Please use the separately available lens hood of the Apo 21 on the 28 - this is much more compact than the rather voluminous lens hood that comes with the 28 (identical to the one for the 35).

[Stuart Richardson]

I would advise against being practical, because this is not solving a practical problem for you. You already have the 24-90mm and 24mm 3.5 which are good enough at 24mm for nearly any purpose. So instead I would advise going with your heart. Since you mostly shoot 35mm, I would get the 35mm APO. It is one of the best lenses I have ever seen. I also mostly use the 50mm APO, but if there is a lens that is better, it is the 35mm. In particular, it seems to have smoother bokeh that can isolate features from the background beautifully. It is a great lens.

Otherwise I would advise just getting the 21mm. With the resolution of the SL2 or SL3, you can crop in a bit with few issues, and it is a lens not covered already by your current lenses.

Edited August 10, 2024 by Stuart Richardson

[hoolyproductions]

Thanks Stuart, I think you might be right about the 35mm. I am also interested in the less amazingly priced 35mm SL ASPH, as another way to have an AF 35mm lens. I'll keep thinking for a while, I suspect this is partly a case of GAS while I wait for my SL3 🙃

[robb]

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28 apo is absolutely perfect 3 lens set with 50 and 90.

I love the combo.

love the 28.  I think I like it better than the 35…

Robb

[BillCB]

My combo is similar but wider - 21, 35 and 75 with the 90-280 for telephoto.

Bill

[o2mpx]

Albeit subject matters are different as landscapes are all I shoot with the SL2, planning to get the APO21 to complement the 24-90, and trade/sell the 16-35. 

Assumption is the APO21 can crop to 35, and it’ll save weight compared to the 16-35. 

[ALScott]

21 hours ago, o2mpx said:

Albeit subject matters are different as landscapes are all I shoot with the SL2, planning to get the APO21 to complement the 24-90, and trade/sell the 16-35. 

Assumption is the APO21 can crop to 35, and it’ll save weight compared to the 16-35. 

I also have the 24-90 which is an unbelievable lens.  I am so torn between the 16-35 and the APO 21.  I don't want to get back into the "lazy" shooting with something as wide as a 16 and I definitely don't want distortion on the edges but I really want to find a gently used APO 21 which doesn't seem possible before my trip out west.   I can get an unused/boxed 16-35 for $3K right now then I read so many posts like this and know I need to wait and see.  May just stick to 24-90 and stitch whatever shot I need wider, but I really want an APO.

[stephenmick]

4 hours ago, ALScott said:

I also have the 24-90 which is an unbelievable lens.  I am so torn between the 16-35 and the APO 21.  I don't want to get back into the "lazy" shooting with something as wide as a 16 and I definitely don't want distortion on the edges but I really want to find a gently used APO 21 which doesn't seem possible before my trip out west.   I can get an unused/boxed 16-35 for $3K right now then I read so many posts like this and know I need to wait and see.  May just stick to 24-90 and stitch whatever shot I need wider, but I really want an APO.

How long is your trip? LensRentals has a 21mm you can rent for around $250/week. To me that’s a small price to pay to have the lens you REALLY want for a trip that’s pretty important to you. 

[lightsourcekauai]

I have a 21 APO and love it. It’s great for seascapes and forests and for any scene where you can get close. I don’t like it for big vistas or when photographing from vistas. But for pretty much everything else it is outstanding. The detail that it produces can be astonishing.

Lee

[JTLeica]

A 28 would give you a ‘perfect’ series. 50mm being 80% longer than 28mm and 90mm being 80% longer than 50mm.

Once you have that you can then start filling the gaps in between with other APO lenses 😂 as trust me these gaps just appear out of nowhere 

[Stuart Richardson]

On 8/12/2024 at 7:03 AM, o2mpx said:

Albeit subject matters are different as landscapes are all I shoot with the SL2, planning to get the APO21 to complement the 24-90, and trade/sell the 16-35. 

Assumption is the APO21 can crop to 35, and it’ll save weight compared to the 16-35. 

You can certainly crop 21mm to 35mm, but it is pretty substantial...basically going to APS-C, so losing half of your data. You will still have good quality in good light, but you are almost certain to get better results with a lens that can use the full format.

[beewee]

I got the 21 APO a few days ago and had the chance to take it out for a spin. It definitely has a unique look and rendering, especially when shooting wide open.

I’m normally more accustomed to shooting 24mm primes and this is my first and only 21mm. Maybe it takes a bit of getting used to but now having both the 21 APO and 28 APO, it makes me wish Leica will actually release 24mm since I still prefer the 24mm perspective. The 21mm requires me to get closer to the subject than I’m accustomed to and the 28mm requires more distance.

While editing images that were stopped down, I found I sometimes needed to add a bit of vignetting to give the image a bit more of a “normal” look.

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[JTLeica]

6 hours ago, beewee said:

I got the 21 APO a few days ago and had the chance to take it out for a spin. It definitely has a unique look and rendering, especially when shooting wide open.

I’m normally more accustomed to shooting 24mm primes and this is my first and only 21mm. Maybe it takes a bit of getting used to but now having both the 21 APO and 28 APO, it makes me wish Leica will actually release 24mm since I still prefer the 24mm perspective. The 21mm requires me to get closer to the subject than I’m accustomed to and the 28mm requires more distance.

While editing images that were stopped down, I found I sometimes needed to add a bit of vignetting to give the image a bit more of a “normal” look.

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

If I ‘took a lens out for a spin’ I wouldn’t end up in a place like that. Where are you? Looks stunning!

[beewee]

1 hour ago, JTLeica said:

If I ‘took a lens out for a spin’ I wouldn’t end up in a place like that. Where are you? Looks stunning!

I’m fortunate enough that this is my ‘backyard’. This is one of the less popular trails in Kananaskis Country, south of Banff Nantional Park which unfortunately is totally overrun with tourists in the summer.

[lightsourcekauai]

12 hours ago, beewee said:

The 21mm requires me to get closer to the subject than I’m accustomed to and the 28mm requires more distance

I think it feels wider than 21. I don’t really have any comparisons or clear evidence for this but it does feel more like a 19 or 18. Anyone else feel this way?

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[JTLeica]

1 hour ago, lightsourcekauai said:

I think it feels wider than 21. I don’t really have any comparisons or clear evidence for this but it does feel more like a 19 or 18. Anyone else feel this way?

It cant be that wide no, looking at the specs the Angle of View is 91.7 degrees, the SEM 21mm is 91 degrees. For reference the 18mm Super Elmer is 100 degrees.

My 20mm Sigma F2 is 94.5 degrees and my old Nikon 20mm 1.8 Z is 94 degrees. So it's definitely a 21.

[Geoff C. Bassett]

7 hours ago, lightsourcekauai said:

I think it feels wider than 21. I don’t really have any comparisons or clear evidence for this but it does feel more like a 19 or 18. Anyone else feel this way?

Uncorrected via lens profile it is wider than 21mm, I think it's closer to 19.5